Voltage differential sensing circuit and methods of using same

ABSTRACT

A voltage differential sensing circuit and methods of operation are disclosed for use in a memory device. The sensing circuit utilizes the inherent delay during sensing, i.e., the period between when an enable signal is enabled and when data is valid, by pulling a node of a transition logic circuit to a midpoint voltage. As the node of the transition logic circuit starts at a midpoint voltage, the voltage swing to valid data is faster because the output no longer needs to swing from rail to rail as before.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/738,420, filed Dec. 15, 2000, pending, which is a divisional application of Ser. No. 09/238,289, filed Jan. 28, 1999, issued Feb. 13, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,623 B1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to memory circuits and, more particularly, to a memory circuit utilizing a voltage differential sensing circuit that senses a data signal during a data output operation. More particularly still, the present invention relates to a voltage differential sensing circuit that reduces timing delay by holding a midpoint value before switching from a first state to a second state when outputting a data signal from the memory array.

A conventional output buffer circuit transmits binary data signals of high and low potentials from an input node to an output node. The high and low potentials represent two states of the output buffer circuit.

These states constitute the unit of information typically stored and retrieved in digital systems, also known as a data bit. A data bit is a binary number having a value of 0 or 1. A data bit in a digital system has logic states of “high” and “low,” often corresponding to a physical parameter such as the voltage at a node in a circuit. Information stored in semiconductor circuits is quantified in terms of the number of bits stored. These circuits, collectively called memory devices, include latches, flip-flops, and registers, depending to some extent on the number of bits stored. The memory cell is the fundamental circuit, however, for storing a data bit and is the building block from which latches, flip-flops, registers, and the like are made.

Several common circuits have been used for the memory cell in the various types of memory devices. Some devices, including the dynamic random access memory (DRAM), employ a memory cell circuit typically having one transistor. The DRAM cell provides one signal for storage data. Other devices, including the static random access memory (SRAM), employ a memory cell circuit having primarily a cross-coupled pair of transistors. The SRAM cell provides two complementary signals for storing data. For example, with complementary signals D and D*, a 0 is represented when D is low and D* is high; and a 1 is represented when D is high and D* is low. Other combinations of D and D* are undefined and thus serve no purpose in the memory device.

Memory devices that are used for storing many bits of information provide an output data signal in response to an input address signal during a “read” operation called a read cycle. In a complex memory device, the read operation may be performed as a process of selecting, sensing, and outputting the content of memory cells. The duration of such a process is called the access time. Complex memory devices may have several types of operations distinguished by control signals including read/write, address strobes, programming and errata strobes, transfer enable and output enable signals. The read cycle begins when the operation is defined by these control signals and an address is specified on the address input of the memory device.

The address can be specified in one of several ways, depending on the design of the memory device. For example, an address can be specified in serial, in conjunction with a clock signal, or in parallel, often accompanied by a strobe signal. A combination of these methods could be used, for example, by presenting on 16 parallel address lines a 32-bit address in two steps accompanied by upper and lower address strobes. In a conventional DRAM, these strobes are associated with the row and column organization of memory cells in an array. Designs for high density memory devices employ several arrays of cells having minute dimensions. Typically, the signal or signals representing the data bit in a memory cell in such an array are weak.

The read cycle concludes with the presentation of signals for use outside the memory device that represent the data addressed. The weak signal levels internal to the memory device are sensed and amplified. Amplified signals at internal signal levels are then translated to conventional logic levels and gated onto the output terminals of the memory device. The level translation and gating are accomplished by an output buffer circuit. When the output buffer circuit is supplying a signal on the output terminal, it is said to be gated on, or enabled; otherwise, it is off or disabled. One aspect important in the design of memory arrays is developing faster timing transitions between the inner action of the sensing circuit and the output buffer circuit.

One example where timing is an issue is in the use of voltage differential sensing circuits within a memory array. Typically, a voltage differential sensing circuit (hereinafter sensing circuit) is used to amplify an output signal from a memory array, but a transition from one potential to the other has to ripple through the sensing circuit as quickly as possible. Typically, the helper flip-flop must transition from a first potential to a second potential and a delay occurs because of such a transition in the worst case example.

Accordingly, what is needed is a method and apparatus that reduces the transition delay from one potential to another within a sensing circuit when outputting a sensed signal in a memory device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a sensing circuit is disclosed for use in a memory device. The sensing circuit utilizes the inherent delay between when the enable signal is enabled and when data is valid by pulling the output gate of the sensing circuit to a midpoint voltage. As the output starts at a midpoint voltage, the voltage swing to valid data is faster because the output no longer needs to swing from a maximum voltage level to a minimum voltage level as before.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which illustrate what is currently regarded as the best mode for carrying out the invention, and in which like reference numerals refer to like parts in different views or embodiments:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a sensing circuit according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a sensing circuit according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of latched complementary data signals as an enable signal goes active for the circuits illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of the response time of both circuits in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the data is sensed low;

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram of the response time of both circuits in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the data is sensed high;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a semiconductor wafer comprising a plurality of the semiconductor devices incorporating the sensing circuit illustrated in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electronic system incorporating a semiconductor device incorporating the sensing circuit of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art sensing circuit 10 for use in a memory array (not shown). The sensing circuit 10 includes a standard helper flip-flop 12 coupled to a transition logic circuit 14 which in turn is coupled to an output driver circuit 16. Input signals to the sensing circuit 10 include an enable signal, EN, a data input line, DI, and a data input complement line, DI*. The output of the sensing circuit 10 is data output line PD. Throughout this detailed description when referring to the state of a signal line, a “high” is equivalent to a logical “1” and a “low” is equivalent to a logical “0”. Similarly, “signal line”, “line” and “signal” are all used synonymously throughout.

The helper flip-flop 12 is comprised of a plurality of field effect transistors, Q1-Q7, and its design is typically known to those skilled in the art. When the EN signal is low, transistors Q1 and Q2 conduct and the data input DI and data input complement DI* are connected with signal PDL and signal PDL*, respectively.

The transition logic circuit 14 in FIG. 1 includes a first inverter 18, a second inverter 19, a third inverter 24, a NAND gate 20 and a NOR gate 22. The first inverter 18 receives the PDL* signal from the helper flip-flop 12. The output of first inverter 18 is input to both NAND gate 20 and NOR gate 22. The EN signal is input to NAND gate 20 and input to third inverter 24. The output of third inverter 24 is input to NOR gate 22. The output of NAND gate 20 is signal P2 and the output of NOR gate 22 is signal P3. The second inverter 19 is used to balance the load of the PDL signal against the load seen by the PDL* signal for more accurate sensing.

The output driver circuit 16 comprises two transistors Q8 and Q9. The output driver circuit 16 receives its input from the transition logic circuit 14. The output from NAND gate 20 is coupled to the gate of transistor Q8 of the output driver circuit 16, and the output of NOR gate 22 is coupled to the gate of a transistor Q9 of output driver circuit 16. When EN is low, output signal PD is at a high impedance state because transistors Q8 and Q9 are off.

Refer additionally to FIG. 3 during the following explanation of the operation of the helper flip-flop 12. Initially, the EN is low, signals DI, DI*, PDL and PDL* are all biased high and transistors Q8 and Q9 are off. Because PDL* is high, P1 is low. Data from a memory cell is then passed onto the DI and DI* lines in the form of a weak differential voltage. Suppose further that this weak differential voltage is a high on signal PDL*. Once this weak differential voltage is sufficient, i.e., it passes threshold voltage, V_(T), the EN signal goes high. When the EN line is driven high, transistors Q1 and Q2 of the helper flip-flop 12 turn off, thereby isolating the PDL and PDL* lines from the large capacitance loading of the DI and DI* lines. The EN signal going high also turns on the pull down transistor Q7, causing lines PDL and PDL* to separate, i.e., PDL* goes high and PDL goes low. Note that FIG. 3 is also illustrative of the operation of helper flip-flop 12 where signals PDL and PDL* are reversed since they are complementary signals.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the operation of transition logic circuit 14 and output driver circuit 16 are explained. In the case that PDL* goes high on separation, i.e., PDL* is sensed high, P1 stays low. With P1 low and EN high, the output, P2, of NAND gate 20 goes high. With the EN high, the output of third inverter 24 goes low, and then P3 goes high. Since P2 and P3 are high, transistor Q8 is off and transistor Q9 is on, pulling output signal PD low.

Because lines DI, DI*, PDL and PDL* are biased high, sensing a high signal is much faster than sensing a low signal. In the case where PDL* is sensed high, the EN signal is a limiting factor in the speed of the transition logic circuit 14 which enables output driver circuit 16 because P1, the output of first inverter 18, stays low.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the case where PDL* line is sensed low will now be explained. Initially, the EN is low and signals DI, DI*, PDL and PDL* are all biased high and transistors Q8 and Q9 are off. Because PDL* is initially biased high, P1 is low, P2 is high, P3 is low and PD is low. When PDL* is sensed low, P1 goes high. With P1 high and the EN signal high, the output P2 of NAND gate 20 goes low, thus turning transistor Q8 on. With P1 having transitioned high and the output of third inverter 24 low, the output P3 of NOR gate 22 remains low, leaving transistor Q9 off. With transistor Q8 on and transistor Q9 off, the output signal PD is pulled high. Because P1 swings from low (0 volts) to high (2.3 volts), i.e., rail to rail, after a small voltage difference is sensed by helper flip-flop 12 to trigger transitions in the NAND gate 20 and the NOR gate 22, the output signal PD going high switches slower than in the case when the EN signal causes output signal PD to go low.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of a sensing circuit 30 is shown according to the present invention. The sensing circuit 30 is suitable for use in a memory array (not shown). The sensing circuit 30 includes a helper flip-flop 32 coupled to a transition logic circuit 34 which in turn is coupled to an output driver circuit 36. Helper flip-flop 32 is the same as helper flip-flop 12 shown in FIG. 1. Thus, FIG. 3 and the discussion for helper flip-flop 12 above are illustrative of the operation of helper flip-flop 32. Similarly, output driver circuit 36 is the same as output driver circuit 16 as shown in FIG. 1. The output driver circuit 36 provides output signal ND.

The transition logic circuit 34 in FIG. 2 includes a first NAND gate 38, a second NAND gate 39, a third NAND gate 40 and an inverter 42. First NAND gate 38 outputs signal N1 based on inputs NDL* and EN. Third NAND gate 40 outputs signal N2 based on inputs N1 and EN. Second NAND gate 39 is used to balance the load of the NDL signal versus the load seen by the NDL* signal for more accurate sensing. Inverter 42 inverts signal N1 to produce signal N3.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 the operation of transition logic circuit 34 and output driver circuit 36 with respect to sensing a high on signal NDL* is explained. Initially, EN is low and signals DI, DI*, NDL and NDL* are all biased high. Thus initially, N1 is high, N2 is high, N3 is low and transistors Q8 and Q9 are off. When the EN signal transitions high, the output N1 of first NAND gate 38 goes low. If signal NDL* were sensed low, signal N1 would remain low. A low on signal N1 causes N2 to remain high and N3 to go high, leaving transistor Q8 off and turning on transistor Q9, and finally pulling output signal ND low. Because inverter 42 is slightly faster than NOR gate 22, the output ND of the inventive sensing circuit 30 occurs ahead of the output PD of the prior art sensing circuit 10. The EN signal is the limiting factor for sensing high with both circuits (30 and 10).

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, the operation of transition logic circuit 34 and output driver circuit 36 with respect to sensing a low on signal NDL* is explained. Initially, the EN signal is low and signals DI, DI*, NDL and NDL* are all biased high. Consequently, N1 is high, N2 is high, N3 is low. With N2 high and N3 low, transistors Q8 and Q9 are both off, and the output driver circuit 36 is a high impedance to signal ND. As the EN signal transitions high, N1 begins to transition low. If NDL* is then sensed low, N1 transitions back up to a high from a midpoint 50. With N1 high, N2 goes low and N3 remains low. Thus, transistor Q8 turns on, pulling ND high and transistor Q9 remains off. If signal NDL* had been sensed high, rather than sensed low, N1 would continue from the midpoint 50 down to a low. FIG. 5 shows that the output signal ND drives high considerably faster than the PD signal of the prior art sensing circuit 10. The faster response time of the inventive sensing circuit 30 is due to driving N1 from a midpoint 50 rather than from rail to rail, i.e., from 0 to 2.3 volts.

In essence, the transition logic circuit 34 of FIG. 2 gives the NAND gate 38 a head start by allowing it to start at midpoint 50 during the sense time rather than having to drive from rail to rail as is required in the transition logic circuit 14 of FIG. 1. The transition logic circuit 34 of FIG. 2 improves output response time of ND by approximately 0.2 nanoseconds from that of output signal PD. This gives transition logic circuit 34 a 20-25% improvement over the speed of the prior art system in the worst case. Further, the worst case scenario in the present invention is now much closer to the best case. As the best case and worst case are more evenly matched in the improved sensing circuit 30 and since the memory speed is dependent upon the worst case, the transition logic circuit 34 provides a significant improvement in speed over the prior art transition logic circuit 14.

Accordingly, transition logic circuit 34 utilizes the inherent delay between when the EN signal drives high and when data is valid to pull the output N1 of NAND gate 38 of the transition logic circuit 34 to a midpoint 50. Since this intermediate timing signal N1 starts at midpoint, the swing to valid data becomes faster than was previously possible since the signal N1 no longer needs to swing from rail to rail as was required in the prior art.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that semiconductor devices according to the present invention may comprise an integrated circuit die employed for storing or processing digital information, including, for example, a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) integrated circuit die, a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) integrated circuit die, a Synchronous Graphics Random Access Memory (SGRAM) integrated circuit die, a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM) integrated circuit die, an Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM) integrated circuit die, a flash memory die and a microprocessor die, and that the present invention includes such devices within its scope. An example of such a memory array is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,330, herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.

As shown in FIG. 6, a semiconductor wafer 620 incorporates a plurality of integrated circuit dice 138 (shown in increased scale and reduced numbers relative to the wafer 620), each of which includes a memory array (not shown) incorporating the sensing circuit 30 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7, illustrates a block diagram of an electronic system 130, such as a computer, including an input device 132 and an output device 134 coupled to a processor device 136, which, in turn, is coupled to a memory device 138 incorporating the exemplary sensing circuit 30 of FIG. 2.

Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are written to encompass all semiconductor devices including those mentioned. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that various combinations and obvious modifications of the preferred embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the accompanying claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for rapidly sensing a weak differential signal comprising: sensing said weak differential signal at a sensing stage of a sense amplifier; transitioning a state of an intermediate signal of an intermediate stage of said sense amplifier coupled to said sensing stage toward a midpoint state; amplifying said sensed weak differential signal to provide an isolated amplified differential signal; and driving said intermediate signal of said intermediate stage of said sense amplifier from said midpoint state to an output state in response to said isolated amplified differential signal.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling isolation of said amplified differential signal in response to said sensing said weak differential signal reaching a threshold voltage, V_(T).
 3. A method for sensing a weak differential signal and driving an output signal in response thereto, comprising: providing a helper flip-flop for receiving said weak differential signal and outputting an amplified differential signal; providing a transition logic circuit coupled to said helper flip-flop for transitioning a state of an intermediate signal of said transition logic circuit toward a midpoint state and upon receipt of said amplified differential signal, driving said intermediate signal of said transition logic circuit, from said midpoint state to an output state in response to said amplified differential signal.
 4. A method for sensing a weak differential signal and driving an output signal in response thereto, comprising: providing two input signal lines; providing a helper flip-flop coupled to said two input signal lines; providing a transition logic circuit coupled to said helper flip-flop having an intermediate signal; providing an output driver circuit coupled to said transition logic circuit for driving said output signal; receiving said weak differential signal on said two input signal lines; transitioning said intermediate signal to a midpoint state between ground potential and supply voltage; amplifying said received weak differential signal and isolating an amplified differential signal from said received weak differential signal once a threshold voltage has been exceeded by said weak differential signal; and driving said output signal to an output state in response to said intermediate signal transitioning from said midpoint state by said amplified differential signal.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing an enable line coupled to said helper flip-flop and said transition logic circuit for isolating said amplified differential signal from said received weak differential signal.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said transitioning occurs during a delay between a start of an enable signal on said enable line and when data is valid on said weak differential signal.
 7. A method for sensing a weak differential signal and driving an output signal in response thereto, comprising: providing two input signal lines; providing an enable line; providing a helper flip-flop coupled to said two input signal lines and said enable line; providing a transition logic circuit coupled to said helper flip-flop, said two input signal lines and said enable line having an intermediate signal; providing an output driver circuit coupled to said transition logic circuit for driving said output signal; receiving said weak differential signal on said two input signal lines; transitioning said intermediate signal to a midpoint state between ground potential and supply voltage; amplifying said received weak differential signal and isolating an amplified differential signal from said received weak differential signal once a threshold voltage has been exceeded by said weak differential signal; and driving said output signal to an output state in response to said intermediate signal transitioning from said midpoint state said amplified differential signal.
 8. A method for reading contents of a memory device, comprising: providing an enable line; providing a helper flip-flop coupled to two input signal lines and said enable line; providing a transition logic circuit coupled to said helper flip-flop, said two input signal lines and said enable line having an intermediate signal; providing an output driver circuit coupled to said transition logic circuit for driving an output signal; receiving a weak differential sign on said two input signal lines; transitioning said intermediate signal to a midpoint state between ground potential and supply voltage; amplifying said received weak differential signal and isolating an amplified differential signal from said received weak differential signal once a threshold voltage has been exceeded by said weak differential signal; and driving said output signal to an output state in response to said intermediate signal transitioning from said midpoint state by said amplified differential signal.
 9. A method for reading contents of a memory device, comprising: providing a sense amplifier, comprising: two input signal lies for receiving said contents thereon; an enable line; a helper flip-flop coupled to said two input signal lines and said enable line; a transition logic circuit coupled to said helper flip-flop, said two input signal lines and said enable line and further including an intermediate signal; and an output driver circuit coupled to said transition logic circuit for driving an output signal; receiving a weak differential signal on said two input signal lines; transitioning said intermediate signal to a midpoint state between ground potential and supply voltage; amplifying said received weak differential signal and isolating an amplified differential signal from said received weak differential signal once a threshold voltage has been exceeded by said weak differential signal; and driving said output signal to an output state in response to said intermediate signal transitioning from said midpoint state said amplified differential signal.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said transitioning occurs during a delay between a start of an enable signal on said enable line and when data is valid on said weak differential signal.
 11. A method for reading contents of a memory device, comprising: providing a sensing circuit, comprising: two input signal lines for receiving said contents thereon; an enable signal line; a helper flip-flop for receiving complementary data input signals from a voltage differential on said two input signal lines and for receiving an enable signal and outputting complementary latched data signals; a transition logic circuit coupled to said helper flip-flop for receiving said enable signal and said complementary latched data signals and generating an intermediate signal; and a data output circuit coupled to said transition logic circuit and said intermediate signal for driving output signal indicative of said voltage differential; receiving said voltage differential on said two input signal lines; transitioning said intermediate signal to a midpoint state between ground potential and supply voltage; amplifying said voltage differential on said two input signals; outputting said complementary latched data signals in response to said enable signal; isolating said complementary latched data signals from said two input signals once a threshold voltage has been exceeded; and driving said output signal to an output state in response to said intermediate signal transitioning from said midpoint state by said complementary latched data signals. 